Love Is Not SelfishSample

Love Is Not Selfish

Love is one of the most used—and most misunderstood—words in our world. People talk about it constantly, yet so often, what culture calls “love” looks nothing like the love described in Scripture. True love, as God defines it, is not self-serving; it is active, sacrificial, and deeply connected to His character. In this devotional series, we will walk through 1 Corinthians 13, allowing God’s Word to reshape our understanding of love. We will see what love does, what it refuses to do, and how we are called to live it out in every area of our lives.

We live in a world obsessed with self. From advertisements to self-help books, the message is clear: love yourself first. You hear it in schools, on social media, and even in some churches. The idea has woven itself so tightly into our culture that many believe self-love is a prerequisite for loving others. The assumption is that if you don’t first build up your own self-worth, you’ll have nothing to offer in relationships.

But Scripture paints a different picture. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to love ourselves. The Bible assumes that we already do. In fact, one of the marks of a world spiraling away from God is self-love. In 2 Timothy 3:1-2, Paul warns that in the last days, people will be "lovers of self," listing it first among the characteristics of a corrupt generation. The more we focus inward, the more we drift from God’s design for love.

True love, the love that comes from God, is not selfish. It does not seek its own advantage. It does not insist on its own way. Instead, it puts God first and prioritizes others. Jesus summed it up when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–39). That kind of love is outward-focused. It’s sacrificial. It prefers others over personal desires.

The world promises happiness through self-focus, but in reality, it leads to emptiness. A person consumed with self becomes increasingly restless, never satisfied. The way to true joy and contentment is not through self-love but through surrender to God. When we love Him above all else, our desires align with His, and our ambition shifts from self-seeking to God-glorifying.

So, take a moment and ask yourself: What am I truly pursuing? Are my ambitions centered on pleasing God, or are they driven by personal gain? Love that pleases God is not self-focused—it is selfless. Today, let that shape the way you live. Make it your aim to please Him in all things